USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Groton > Tercentenary, 1655-1955, Groton, Massachusetts > Part 3
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The land for the school was given by the brothers, James and Prescott Lawrence, of Groton, and the necessary money was contributed by various interested persons. The original trustees were: Rev. Phillips Brooks, Rev. William Lawrence (both later bishops of Massachusetts), S. Endicott Peabody (father of Endicott), William C. Endicott (Secre- tary of War under Cleveland), J. Pierpont Morgan, James Lawrence, and Endicott Peabody, who was named as headmaster.
Groton is a church school; that is, the religious services, which all boys must attend, are those of the Protestant Episcopal Church, and the constitution requires that the headmaster be a minister of that church.
The school started with twenty-four boys and three resident mas- ters, the Rev. Sherrard Billings and William Amory Gardner being
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Peabody's assistants. Now, seventy years later, there are some thirty masters and about two hundred boys.
The school has prospered through the years. There have always been more applications than vacancies, and generous gifts and bequests have built up an endowment fund which makes it possible to have only first-rate men as masters and provides scholarships for about a third of the boys. Entrance is entirely on a competitive basis, and, aside from required chapel attendance and religious instruction, there are no restrictions in the matter of race or creed. The graduates have on the whole carried out the idea of service which Mr. Peabody constantly preached and taught. Groton has probably had a larger percentage of alumni holding important positions in public life than any other American school. These include: a President of the United States, three Cabinet members, three United States senators, four United States con- gressmen, six ambassadors, four governors, nine assistant- or under- secretaries, and many others.
Endicott Peabody was headmaster for 56 years until 1940. Since then the Rev. John Crocker, a graduate of the school, has ably carried on the work begun by his predecessor.
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THE GROTON PUBLIC LIBRARY
On February 3, 1854, a letter from the Hon. Abbott Lawrence, a Groton boy, who had become Minister to England and who was then living in Boston, was received by George S. Boutwell, John Boynton, Noah Shattuck, Caleb Butler, and Joshua Green. It read in part as fol- lows: "It appears to me that the time has arrived when such Institutions (public libraries) can be made eminently useful throughout the State, and I have thought that a Public Library judiciously selected would greatly benefit my native Town." Mr. Lawrence went on to offer $1,000.00 for such a library, provided that the Town would match his initial gift and "vote annually a moderate sum" to insure "a gradual increase of modern and other books in order to insure the success of this new undertaking."
Thus was founded one of the first public libraries in Massachusetts, antedating even the Boston Public Library. The original library, with about 800 books, was kept by Mrs. Margaret Blake at her little store on the corner of Main Street and Station Avenue. In 1860 it was moved to a room in the Town Hall, thence, in 1867, to Liberty Hall, a building on the site of the present Groton Drug Store, and in 1876 back into the Town Hall, in what is now the Selectmen's room, where for sixteen years Miss Jennie H. Thayer was the enthusiastic and faithful keeper of books.
In 1891, Mrs Charlotte A. L. Sibley offered the Town a plot of ground on Main Street, and $4,000.00 toward a new building, if the Town would appropriate an additional $15,000.00 for the purpose. Under the vigorous leadership of a group of citizens headed by Michael Sheedy, Jr., the Town made the appropriation and raised an additional $10,000 by private subscription. On May 17, 1893, our present building was dedicated. Its architect, Arthur Rotch, was a grand- nephew of Abbott Lawrence, and, true to tradition, donated his services.
The West Groton Branch was begun in 1898, simply as a "delivery station" fed from the Main Library. In 1915 it was firmly established, in one room but with its own books and librarian, Miss Kate Tarbell. In 1933 it moved to its present quarters in Rockwood House.
The history of the Library has been the story of steady development from a one-room Library of 800 books to one maintaining its own build- ing and a flourishing Branch, each with its separate Children's Room, with a combined collection of 25,000 books and a yearly circulation of over 20,000. Any history of our Library, however brief, would be incom-
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plete without mention of Miss Emma F. Blood, who, as Librarian from 1891 to 1948, made the Library her life-work, guiding it with unselfish dedication and skill through more than half of its first century.
GROTON COMMUNITY HOSPITAL
Dr. Arthur Goss Kilbourn in 1907 began caring for the sick and injured in a remodeled dwelling on Main Street, Groton's first hospital. When Dr. Kilbourn died in 1932, Dr. Cyrus Comninos took over his practice and private hospital, and in the fall of 1948 turned over title to the property and administration of the hospital to a Board of Trustees. Thus the proprietary Hospital became the Groton Community Hospital.
For nearly half a century, the old hospital building, with its twenty- five beds, including seven temporary ones and four bassinets, cared for the people of this area.
By 1950 overcrowding at the hospital had become extremely serious. Also the building, of wooden construction, was judged by State author- ities to be a bad fire risk which could not be made safe by repairs or renovations.
The Trustees and Directors decided that a new functional hospital building should be erected. Building costs were high and modern hospital equipment was and is extremely expen- sive. Nevertheless, plans were drawn for a forty-one bed and eight bassinet hospital with every modern facility and scientific device for adequate diagnosis and treatment of the ill and injured people of this community.
A drive for building funds was undertaken and the public responded generously. On July 20, 1953, the build- ing was officially opened, patients were transferred from the old hospital and the public was invited to inspect the new structure, which is located on Moison Hill with an unsurpassed view of the Nashua River valley and the hills and mountains beyond.
PARK DEPARTMENT
In a letter to the Selectmen of Groton, dated September 1, 1900, Mr. Amory A. Lawrence offered a tract of land 141/2 acres, on the south side of Broadmeadow Road, to the Town of Groton, "to be called the Lawrence Playground in memory of the many Lawrences who have lived there." The Town accepted the gift, and the next year the land was surveyed and partially drained to make it usable as a baseball field. In
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1904 two bronze tablets were placed on the northerly gate post. Granite posts, also the gift of Mr. Lawrence, were placed about the entrance. These for many years had been at Harvard College.
At the Annual Town Meeting of February 4, 1946, $16,000 was appropriated for the improvement of Lawrence Playground and other recreational purposes, and a Playground Committee of five members was appointed. The Committee report of 1946 describes the problems and work accomplished at this time. Work was completed the following year, and the field was inaugurated Sunday, September 21, 1947. At this same time basketball facilities were installed at Squannacook Hall, West Groton, and the hall was opened for supervised basketball on December 3rd.
In 1954 the Town decided to build a tennis court on the Lawrence Playground.
Small portions of the "common lands" of early times still belong to the Town. The American Legion has erected memorial markers on these "commons" and they are now called Francis W. Sawyer Square (Hollis Street), William H. Boynton Square (at Legion Hall near the old grave- yard), Charles R. Gordon Square (Main Street), Byron H. Wilson Square (junction of Main Street and Old Ayer Road), and Jack Arm- strong Square (near Groton School) in Groton; and Joseph E. Cutler Square (center of West Groton).
Hazel Grove Park, for many years the site of the annual Groton Fair, run by the Groton Farmers and Mechanics Club, became the prop- erty of the Town in 1941, by gift of Mr. William P. Wharton, to be used as a public park, and was placed under the care and jurisdiction of the Park Commissioners.
Joseph E. Cutler Memorial Park, off Townsend Road, West Groton, is a fine field developed by the townspeople living in that part of Groton. It was dedicated in 1948 at the Joseph E. Cutler Memorial Field Day Exercises.
THE GROTON POLICE DEPARTMENT
The first record of any form of Police Department is found in the year 1911 when the first Chief of Police was appointed and began his duties on April 15th. Previous to that time the police duties were carried out by three elected constables and special police officers.
From 1911 to 1925 the Chief and other officers used their own cars or hired cars to carry on their duties, but in 1925 the Town bought a motorcycle for the use of the Department. In the year 1928 a car was purchased for the Chief to use in carrying out his duties.
All of these years the Chairman of the Board of Selectmen was, according to law, the actual Chief of Police, and the officer who was appointed was the Acting Chief. In July 1938 the Town voted to accept
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the provisions of Section 97 of Chapter 41 of the General Laws which established a Police Department under the direction of the Selectmen who were to appoint a Chief of Police and such police officers as they deemed necessary.
In February 1941 the first night police officer was appointed. Prior to this, the Chief had been the only full time officer. The Department moved into new quarters in the rear of the Town Hall in July of that year where they are still located.
From 1938 to 1946 the police cruiser was equipped with a radio receiver that was tuned to the State Police frequency and they were able to receive some emergency calls. This system was of some help but it did not answer the needs as there was no way in which the State Police could know if the message had been received. In July of 1946 a new two- way radio system was installed in the Fire Station for the use of the Police and Fire Departments. This system has been of tremendous value to both of these units and has given the Town added protection. Soon after the radio system was installed the Pepperell and Shirley Police Departments joined the system soon to be followed by the Ayer and Townsend Police forces. Today we are connected by radio to Ayer, Shirley, Pepperell, Townsend and Dunstable Police and the Ayer, Shirley, and Pepperell Fire Departments. This is one of the most modern protection systems in use and has meant added protection to all of the communities. This network has resulted in splendid cooperation between all the towns, and mutual aid is spontaneous.
The Groton Police Department today consists of a Chief and one full time officer, three full time radio operators, three constables, and twelve spare police officers.
GROTON FIRE DEPARTMENT
The town had no conveniences for extinguishing fires until the year 1802. At that time a house, which stood where Brazer House now is, was burned, and an enterprising young man, Loammi Baldwin, Jr., then studying law in Groton, watched the fire and noted the helplessness of the towns- people in extinguishing it. He concluded that he could build a fire engine and proceeded to do so. The wood work was done in the cabinet shop of Jonathan Loring, which stood where Bruce's Drug Store is, and the iron work was made in the blacksmith shop across the street. This engine, known as Torrent No. 1, was in active use almost a century and is now on exhibition at the Boutwell House.
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On February 1, 1815, another fire which consumed the house that stood on the site of the Convent, prompted a group of men to organize as the Groton Fire Club. The first meeting of this club was February 4, when Honorable James Prescott was chosen President and Caleb Butler, Secretary. The club met annually for choice of officers at one of the public houses, where supper was served. Each member was required to be supplied with "two good ten quart leathern buckets and a suitable bag, which he shall always keep in a conspicuous place, easy of access in his dwelling house." The last entry in the record book of the Fire Club was January 1872.
At this time the town built five reservoirs holding 4000 gallons each. These reservoirs were placed respectively near the three meeting-houses, the Town House and the High School, filled by the water from the roofs of these several buildings. A few other cisterns were built later.
On March 1, 1875 the town voted to adopt certain laws of the General Statutes, by which action there was no longer need of a private organization. A Board of Fire Engineers was first appointed by the Selectmen in that year, and the first chief engineer was George Sumner Graves.
Engine Companies were organized at various times, and were often entertained at the supper meetings of the Fire Club. There was at one time the Torrent Engine Company. In 1830, the Union Engine Com- pany came into existence, immediately following a series of incendiary fires. The company doubtless took its name from the Union Congrega- tional Church near where their engine was housed in the horseshed.
About the time the Groton Fire Department became organized two engine companies, the Paugus and the Lawrence companies, came into existence. There was rivalry between these two companies for many years until 1898 when they were disbanded and one new company called the Groton Engine and Hose Company was formed. This Company has been our town fire company ever since. The fire apparatus was kept in the back part of the Town Hall, horses from Johnson's stable directly across Station Avenue were hitched to the engines to go to fires. Alarms were given by ringing the bell at the First Parish Meeting-House and later by bells in the other churches as well. It was 1912 when this method of sounding an alarm was given up and a steam whistle was installed on the Town Hall roof.
In 1886, the Town authorized the organization of a permanent company in West Groton, and when formed it was named the Squanna- cook Engine Company. There the fire engines were kept in Squannacook Hall, and alarm was given by blowing the mill whistles until quite re- cently when a fire whistle was installed in that area.
In 1940, the Odd Fellows Hall was converted into the Fire Station for the village of Groton and equipment was moved from the Town Hall to the new quarters. A two-way radio belonging to the police depart-
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ment, but used in cooperation with the fire department, has been in- stalled in the fire station at a more recent date. Due to the radio and added equipment and duties, it has been necessary to have a man on duty there at all times. Also the need for more room arose so an addition to the present fire station has been built this past year.
ELECTRIC LIGHT DEPARTMENT
At a town meeting held November 3, 1908, Henry K. Richards, Myron P. Swallow and Frank F. Waters were appointed a committee to investigate the advisability of the Town building an electric lighting system. Upon a favorable report of that committee at a town meeting the next summer, it was voted to proceed with construction.
The Town contracted for construction of a plant, and for current from the Ayer Electric Light Co. to be delivered at the town line on Old Ayer Road from whence it was transmitted to the sub-station on Station Avenue. Approximately four months after the construction contract was signed the street lights were in service and three homes had electric lighting. Seven more were added within a year.
A new transmission line was built in 1922 to meet the greatly in- creased demand for light, heat and power. Within the last five years an additional transmission line has been built along the railroad right-of- way but the old line has been retained for emergency. This new line will meet the demands of the town for many years. All wires and cables at the sub-station and on Station Avenue have been placed underground. Major changes have been made in the sub-station, and mercury vapor street lighting system of the most modern type has been installed in the center of the town.
A few comparisons are of interest. Forty-five years ago the Depart- ment served ten customers; today there are over 1400. If a customer had used 200 kilowatt hours of current in a month in 1909, it would have cost $32.00; but the monthly cost is now $6.45.
Henry K. Richards may be called the "Father of the Groton Electric Department" for it was largely due to his interest and devotion that brought it into being. However, it is Walter H. Dodge who worked during the construction and has engineered, operated and managed the system ever since.
GROTON WATER COMPANY
At a town meeting on November 3, 1896, the following articles were acted upon:
Article 3. To see if the Town will take such measures as are needed to bring about legislation in order to secure Baddacook Pond as a source of water supply for the town, or take any action thereon.
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Article 4. To see if the Town will take the necessary steps to secure a charter for a system of Public Water Works for the Town, or take any action in relation to the same.
After much discussion both Article 3 and Article 4 were indefinitely postponed.
As the town was not interested in establishing a water system, the Groton Water Company came into existence as a private organization. Henry W. Whiting was the man most responsible for bringing this about. The idea of a water system originated with him, and after it was turned down by the town, he made every effort to interest a group of citizens to form a company. He was successful in doing this. The Groton Water Company was incorporated in 1897, and Honorable George S. Boutwell was the first president.
The water was turned on for general use in December 1897. From the first Annual Report of 1898 the following is taken: "The number of water takers at the present time is eighty." In 1899 the water takers numbered one hundred twenty-three. Now there are four hundred seventy-three customers. The only sources of revenue are the sale of water and the charge for hydrants.
At the present time the company is in the process of obtaining a new well. It is located in a meadow off Martin's Pond Road, formerly called Flaggy Meadow, in a spot which was explored as a water source in the original survey.
From its beginning the company has had only two superintendents, Charles B. Eddy, who served for thirty-nine years, and Thomas S. Lawrence, the present superintendent.
THE WEST GROTON WATER SUPPLY DISTRICT
The citizens of West Groton were called to a meeting in Squanna- cook Hall on January 10, 1911 for the purpose of considering a water supply for the village. A committee of seven men was chosen to look into the matter and report later. After thorough investigation, it was decided that the best procedure would be to form a West Groton Water Supply District, and, therefore, petitioned the Legislature to grant the right to establish the same. This was done, as is shown in Chapter 641 of the Acts of the Commonwealth 1911.
A meeting was held; the Act was accepted by the people; and the following Board of Water Commissioners was chosen: Messrs. Arthur W. Lamb, George H. Bixby and A. Howard Thompson.
Work was commenced on construction of pipe lines and on Janu- ary 10, 1912, water was first pumped into the stand-pipe for the use of the people. By the end of 1912, the District had three miles of pipe lines and eighty takers, and at present, it has about five miles of pipe lines and nearly two hundred takers including two large industrial customers.
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GROTON TOWN FOREST
The Groton Town Forest was established by vote of the town at Town Meeting in April, 1922. It then included the woodlands and old pastures of the town farm, and considerable areas along the Nashua and Dead Rivers given by Mr. William Amory Gardner, - a total of about 180 acres. This forest was set up as a memorial to the Groton men who gave their lives in the first World War. From time to time since then adjoining wood lots have been acquired, until at the present time the total area of the forest is about 420 acres.
The first activity on the forest was the harvesting of a substantial amount of fine chestnut trees which were dying from the chestnut bark disease, and a limited amount of pine. The sale of this timber brought in enough money to pay for the planting of the open pasture area with about 30.000 pine trees. Two years later another planting of a similar number of trees was made in the extreme southern portion, which had been burned over ten or more years previously, and was left in poor condition.
Since these initial operations, there have been a considerable num- ber of others, which have harvested not only pine but also hardwood for fuel purposes, the latter especially during the depression which be- gan in about 1929. The income from the forest has always been fully sufficient to maintain it in satisfactory condition, and promote its value to the town. No artificial planting has been necessary, because the forest soil and other conditions are ideally suited to reproduction of white pine by natural methods, the result being that young white pines of all ages are growing up in almost every section of the forest.
OLD BLACKSMITH SHOP
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THE OLD CEMETERY
Go where the ancient pathway guides, See where our sires laid down Their smiling babes, their cherished brides, The patriarchs of the town; Hast thou a tear for buried love? A sigh for transient power? All that a century left above, Go, - read it in an hour!
O. W. Holmes
The Old Cemetery was the only common burying place in Groton from the time of the founding of the town until 1847. As was the custom, it was located near the meeting-house, which stood on what is now known as Legion Common. Its position, its natural features, and its more or less seclusion from the heavily traveled thoroughfares made it a spot wonderfully adapted to the purpose for which it was chosen.
The burying ground was originally purchased from the Rev. Gershom Hobart toward the end of the seventeenth or early in the eighteenth century. The town neg- lected to pay for the land until Mr. Hobart became very much out of patience, and though several burials had been made, he threatened that if the amount agreed upon were not forthcoming and the transaction closed, he would proceed to plough and cultivate the land. This threat had no effect, and so he commenced to carry it into execution, but only a few furrows around the outer edge of the ground were required to bring the town to terms, and to get the money paid. Mr. Hobart, as the minister, had more or less trouble with the people, and the ill feeling that prevailed on both sides no doubt had its influence in this matter. For many years ridges were noticeable around the outside of the burying ground, that were said to be the remains of Mr. Hobart's furrows. Later a wall and side- walk were added so all traces of the furrows were obliterated.
Within these grounds, which have been practically disused since the new cemetery was established, lie many of the first settlers. The earliest inscription, May 9, 1704, is on the monument of James Prescott, son of Jonas Prescott. In 1949 bronze markers were set for those of the original proprietors, whose burial spots were known, namely -
Simon Stone, died 1741. Aged 85 years.
James Robinson, died 1720. Aged 88 years.
Joshua Whitney, died 1719. Aged 83 years.
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As one saunters through the cemetery there are a number of inter- esting stones to be seen. One is to Capt. John Sheple, who died in 1736. He was the only one of his father's family, who escaped being massacred by the Indians in the assault of 1694. He was carried off and held a prisoner for four years before he was able to return to Groton.
The stone to Samuel Bowers reads that he "departed this Life the Sixteenth Day of December Anno Domini 1768. Half a hour after Three of the Clock in ye Afternoon, and in the Fifty Eight year of his age." He kept a tavern during many years in the present Champney house at the corner of Champney and Hollis Streets.
Another stone is to Joshua Bentley, who rowed Paul Revere across the Charles River on that memorable night in 1775, and passed away at the age of ninety-five on April 15, 1819.
The stone to Mrs. Abigail Parker, wife of Joseph Parker, reads that she "left two Hundred or upwards of Children and Grand-children." She was the mother of fourteen children and died February 19, 1787 in her ninetieth year.
Many eminent in public life also rest here, among them being-
Honorable Benjamin Prescott, 1696-1738, who was the father of Colonel William Prescott.
Major-General Oliver Prescott, 1731-1804.
Rev. Caleb Trowbridge, 1691-1760.
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